Over 80 acres of land salvaged by the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) after the demolition of the Agbogbloshie scrapyard and the Onion Market four years ago are under siege.
The walled parcel of land, 15 acres of which have been earmarked for the construction of the Ablekuma Central Municipal Hospital, is being overtaken by scrap dealers, who have started staging a dramatic comeback.
In the past two weeks, scores of scrap dealers have broken through the protective wall and begun constructing wooden structures on the land with impunity.
A three-day surveillance by The Daily Graphic of the area revealed that various sections of the wall constructed around the parcel of land had been breached by the dealers to enable them to gain access to the space for erecting structures.
Between Sunday (January 19) and Tuesday (January 21), The Daily Graphic observed that around 100 unauthorized structures had sprung up, with more still under construction.
While some carpenters, masons, and other artisans were seen working to raise additional structures, other well-built men took strategic positions, guarding the works.
Wooden structures and metal containers have been placed behind the wall from the Abossey Okai Central Mosque area to the bridge over the Odaw River at Agbogbloshie.
Context
As part of its “Let’s Make Accra Work” initiative, the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC), with the support of armed police personnel, stormed the Agbogbloshie scrapyard on July 1, 2021, and demolished structures that had hosted about 10,000 scrap dealers. Armed with bulldozers, the team cleared all occupants from the 20-acre land and forcefully displaced the scrapyard workers. The demolition also affected the onion market in the same area.
All storage facilities and holding centers for scrap metal were destroyed. The only two buildings that remained were those erected by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and development partners. It was reported that the onion traders had agreed to relocate to Adjen Kotoku, near Amasaman in Accra. However, the scrapyard was not supposed to be affected as no negotiations had happened.
Political Twist
Multiple highly placed sources within the Old Fadama slum community told The Daily Graphic that the reconstruction of structures in the area began just a few days after the current President, John Dramani Mahama, was sworn in.
“The people are claiming that if their party had been in power, they would not have been ejected from that parcel of land. Now that their President is back in power, they are coming back to occupy their rightful place on that land,” said a source on condition of anonymity.
The Daily Graphic observed that many of the structures springing up had the flag of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) tied to them.
When The Daily Graphic spoke to some individuals reconstructing the reclaimed Agbogbloshie scrapyard, they defended their actions, stating they were only reoccupying land that had been forcefully taken from them.
One individual, Rashid Moro, who is spearheading the reoccupation effort, explained that they were constructing temporary structures in anticipation of fully taking over the area.
“We are not here to stay permanently. The structures we’ve put up are temporary. We are waiting for the government to appoint a new MCE for Ablekuma Central. Once the MCE is appointed, we will engage with him to seek approval to remain on the land,” he said.
Onion Sellers’ Response
However, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Onion Sellers Association, Ali Umar, stated that those reoccupying the land were not members of their association or the displaced onion traders from four years ago.
“Although relocating our businesses was initially a bitter pill to swallow, we have come to terms with the fact that the land belongs to the government, and must remain so regardless of the political party in power,” he said.
According to Umar, the reoccupation of the land began shortly after the inauguration of the new administration, but efforts by the association to address the situation had so far yielded little results.
“We approached the MP for Ablekuma Central for assistance, but most of the people occupying the land are from the North. When we confronted them, they boldly told us they would never leave,” he recounted.
Umar also revealed that his members had faced threats when they attempted to reclaim the land. “We went there, and they pointed guns at our people,” he said.
Justified Demolition
Meanwhile, the former Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, who oversaw the demolition of the scrapyard, expressed concerns about the implications of reversing the relocation policy following the change in government.
“This is government land, and I worked in the territorial interest of the country. We faced numerous challenges in the area, including crime, environmental hazards, and health risks. I made sure we addressed these issues to protect humanity, and we should not go back to the old order,” he stressed.
Quartey defended the decision to relocate the onion traders and other occupants, emphasizing that the move was necessary to safeguard public health, reduce crime, and protect government lands.
The former Minister for the Interior also explained that the relocation had helped address significant challenges, including flooding caused by activities in the area, toxic emissions from scrap burning, and traffic congestion.
“The toxic fumes emitted from that area were life-threatening, and we dredged the Odaw River to reduce flooding. We did it to save lives and humanity,” Quartey stated.
Crime Concerns
Quartey also revealed that criminal activities, such as stashing arms and burning weapons, were prevalent in the area before the relocation.
“If the new administration feels it’s okay for people to take over that land, then I have nothing to say,” he said.
Addressing accusations that the relocation was carried out forcefully, Quartey refuted such claims, emphasizing that the process was well planned and executed humanely.
“I did not move them in a Rambo style. There was a process, and we ensured provisions were made to make them comfortable in their new location. Mechanisms were put in place for their welfare,” he explained.
Toxicity Test
Quartey also explained that a soil test revealed high toxicity on the land, and the Environmental Protection Agency had been tasked with assessing and regenerating the soil to make the area habitable again.
He urged the media to critically examine the issue and hold the current administration accountable for any reoccupation of the area.
“The media should confront the facts. The shameful record of the area’s condition before the relocation has been erased because of the work we did,” he said.
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